3 ways to combat emotional eating

Hi, my name is Lisa and I am a stress eater. When I am upset/sad/angry, I can literally eat an entire pizza and probably a full tray of brownies too. It’s as if I just pour the comfort food into a giant hole in my soul but it never gets filled. I never feel “full”.

Can you relate?

So, this year I’m working on my “stuff” and trying to remember this mantra:

“face your stuff, don’t stuff your face”

Here are 3 tips to help keep the emotional eating at bay:

1. Acknowledge the problem. Usually I know I’m upset, but I try to ignore it and then end up binging. From now on, I’m going to write it down or tell a friend the specifics so I cannot avoid it. Maybe I’ll have to say it 10,000 times, but hopefully if I identify the issue, it won’t take over my emotions.

2. Breathe and accept. Life is full of shitty situations, there is no way around that. However we choose how we REACT to those situations. If I choose to get upset over someone else’s actions, it gives them control over ME. I need to learn to just let stuff roll off my back and just worry about myself from now on. (translation: some people just plain suck) I can only control me–not others. (and especially not my kids! But that is for another post….)

3. Workout. Some people call this an unhealthy obsession, I call it my therapy. It helps me release stress, anger, and just makes me feel good. I need to bundle up all my anger and sadness and work through it in my gym. Instead of reaching for candy late at night, I plan to reach for my running shoes and go exercise.